Exposing the national team to more quality opposition is the way to go for the future.

And according to national coach Kyle Lightbourne, Bermuda could again rub shoulders with elite opponents in the foreseeable future.

Lightbourne disclosed yesterday how plans were ongoing to have the national team involved in more competitive friendlies against top class opposition ? either abroad or on local turf.

The former Coventry City striker said the national team would resume training later this month and will train the last two weeks of every month while behind-the-scenes discussions continue that could see Lightbourne?s men become more active at the national level.

Following Sunday?s 3-0 defeat against the visiting Santos B team at the National Sports Centre, Lightbourne reckoned his players will have gained valuable experience from the match.

?When I look back and analyse the match, I think there was a lot of good, steady performances and I think our guys would have learned a lot from their opponents,? noted Lightbourne.

?I actually watched the Brazilians train on Saturday and a lot of the stuff they do in training is the same that we do.

?They just do it at a quicker pace and are more sharp but if we can pick up on that method of training then I think we can improve on our own touch and awareness.

?Those things come easier when you don?t have to worry about that first touch because you know it?s there.?

But it?s providing the national team with more competitive matches and exposure to quality opposition that concerns Lightbourne most at this juncture.

?The benefits of playing against quality opposition is that we get to learn and know that we can compete at a higher level if you put in that effort,? he continued. ?That?s what I asked of the players yesterday (Sunday). Let?s not go out there and be defeated from the outset. But let?s work hard as a unit and be difficult to break down. And that was one of my main objectives in that exercise that I have used before.?

Though the coach revealed that plans were in the pipeline to add continuity to the national programme, he could not divulge a possible date for any future incoming or outgoing tours.

?We are in the process of bringing in a couple more teams,? he said. ?And we are hopeful we can get this all sorted out. But we just have to see how it goes before we can announce something in the near future.?

Lightbourne said plans were to have teams compete against the national side from various regions including the UK and Latin America.

?The Bermuda Football Association and other individuals are interested in bringing in other teams from all over the world as well,? he added. ?We would like to bring in teams from England and South America so that we can be exposed to different styles of football and learn how to adjust playing against them.

?Although nothing has yet to be finalised, I think it?s important for us to strike the iron while it is still hot.?

Lightbourne also reflected on Sunday?s 3-0 loss to Santos ? the coach?s first match at the helm of the team on local turf.

?It was nice to go up against a Brazilian team,? he said. ?And I?m sure Bermudians haven?t really seen too many South American teams play here before. So it was good to see their brand of football . . . and we know what it?s all about.

?But to see it first-hand was a great experience ? watching their awareness, creativity and work-rate which is something often overlooked here in Bermuda.?